Information Technology Support for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
MORI Associates was tasked with providing information technology (IT), network, and telecommunications support for the NIDDK as part of a larger set of IT services. This support includes Help Desk Tier II and III services, network telecommunications, network engineering, complete software development and life-cycle planning, IT security, web development, custom design of the Scientific Information Management and Processing Tool (SIMON) and Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), telecommunication engineering, and IT strategy support.
Technical Services
- IT Security MORI Associates created and implemented a multi-phased program to improve information security. MORI provided an Information System Security Officer (ISSO) to create a plan for the entire organization’s compliance with Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA) requirements.
- Communications Systems Engineering MORI provided the technical expertise and design to improve the NIDDK network. MORI assisted in developing a secure IP tunneling that allowed NIDDK to implement a nationwide WAN between the Bethesda and Phoenix campuses at a fraction of projected bandwidth costs. MORI also developed the principal network operations center by implementing Cisco Works and SolarWind to ensure high network operations.
- Help Desk Support MORI provides Help Desk support to desktops, laptops, Linux, and UNIX systems. The Help Desk provides a first call resolution rate on the same day the majority of the time.
- Software Development MORI developed many complex applications to investigate the genomic solutions for major diseases. MORI was tasked with developing a Scientific Information Management and Processing Tool for research grants that had previously stalled due to poor requirements gathering and definition. MORI performed an audit and adjusted the design to leverage existing Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle databases. The product was provided to the user community via Jrun4 executing on a MS Windows 2000 operating system.
Innovative Solutions to Satisfy Technical Requirements
- MORI Associates improved and standardized Help Desk operations to provide services to end users in the Bethesda, MD and Phoenix, AZ offices.
- MORI developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to streamline server operations and ensure that all existing and new staff maintained current knowledge regarding systems configuration. MORI documented server-level work, which included system back up, recovery, and disaster recovery. This method of documentation also helped the customer meet data security policy.
- MORI implemented e-Policy Orchestrator to provide a consistent implementation of NIDDK and CIT security policy across the information infrastructure. MORI also implemented a consistent configuration management process for 45 Cisco 7000 series switches and routers and edge devices to allow secure telecommunications across the nation.
Results
MORI has ensured that NIDDK maintains its mission-driven course without suffering downtime or loss of vital corporate knowledge. MORI delivered > 99% of all hours. Many service requests were for specialized technical skills, such as a Data Warehouse designer for scientific systems, informatics professional, or ISSO with a background in health informatics. MORI has also developed many significant research systems, as shown below.
| System | Purpose and Function |
| Blood Glucose Monitoring System (BGMS) | BGMS is a comprehensive secure electronic web-enabled Type 1 diabetes management system. It receives patients’ Blood Glucose (BG) readings from BG meters via an ActiveX component. Doctors can communicate with patients and monitor patients’ meal schedules, vital signs, and medication. |
| Clinical Research Wizard (CReW) | This web-based system collates data for multiple clinical protocols with data drawn from the Current Research Information System (CRIS). CReW supports the principle investigators (PI) of NIDDK protocols. |
| Division of Nutrition Research Coordination (DNRC) Web | This web site helps DNRC staff to view their Conference Materials and Reports, Nutrition Education Resources, and Information for Researchers. They can post these documents with xml feed. In addition to that they can schedule their events with the calendar control, including MS Outlook integration. |
| Human Nutrition Research Info. Mgmt. (HNRIM) | HNRIM is a searchable database of nutrition research and research training activities. HNRIM gets nutrition grant data from IMAPACII, users add the nutrition codes to grants (projects) and make sure dollar amount matches. |
| Livertox | The Livertox application captures case information for patients having toxicities from medications taken for liver problems. |
| MicroARRAY | This system stores data output from DNA chip analyzer. It allows the data to be displayed in tables and graphically. A chip output is typically 50 MB of data. |
| PECRB research database | The Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch (PECRB) database system stores research data on obesity studies of Pima Indians in Phoenix, AZ and the Gila River Indian Reservation. |
| Policies & Procedures List (PPL) | The PPL web site lists all policies and procedure documents of NIH along with indexes and keywords. Administrators can add, edit, and delete policies through features implemented in the site. |
| National Diabetic Educational Program (NDEP) Work Groups | The NDEP site provides features to manage the Workgroups, Steering committee, Executive committee, Operations committee and generate different reports. The site also supports administrative features such as printing mailing labels; managing rosters; and sending bulk emails and invitations. |